WTAP @ 5 To Your Health Report: Student Sleep Study

Now a new study finds that a few extra minutes of shut eye can make the difference in a young adult's day.

Here's Chuck Roberts with today's Health Minute.

Can youngsters benefit from a little more sleep?

According to a new report out of the July issue of "Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , " a short delay in school start times appears to improve a child's mood, health and attention in class.

The study looked at 201 students in grades 9 through 12.

All went to the same high school.

For the purpose of the study, researchers delayed the school start time from 8 am to 8:30-am.

The students were then given a sleep habit survey after the change was made.

Investigators found that students reported significantly more satisfaction with sleep and experienced improved motivation, and less daytime sleepiness, fatigue and depressed moods when school was delayed.

Sleep experts say during the onset of puberty, young people go to bed later and sleep later.

The optimal sleep needs for teens is about nine to nine and a quarter hours per night.

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